A Whisper of the Tree

Chapter One: The Voice Beneath the bark

Elara had always sensed something different about the tree.

They said it had stood there for over a hundred years-older than the house, older than the town itself.

But Elara didn't care about its history. She cared about how it made her feel-watched, drawn in, like it remembered her.

Every time she stepped into the backyard, the world seemed to hush around her. The wind slowed. The birds went silent. And the tree... it watched her.

She never told anyone, but sometimes when the sky turned soft with twilight-she heard it whisper her name.

That evening, with the sky painted in lavender and gold, Elara stood beneath its towering branches. The air was thick, humming with something unspoken.

She reached out and touched the bark, worn and warm beneath her fingertips.

"Why do you always make me feel..." she paused, closing her eyes, "...like I've forgotten something important?"

For a breath, there was silence.

Then-

"Because you have."

The voice came soft as the wind, close as her own breath.

Elara's heart stopped

"Elara!"

Her mother's voice rang out from the kitchen window, shattering the moment.

She pulled her hand away quickly, the echo of the whisper lingering like a dream she couldn't hold onto.

That night, Elara dreamt of a school she had never seen, and yet somehow, she knew the path through its halls by heart.

Sunlight streamed through tall, old windows. Her shoes echoed on tiled floors. She wore a pale blue uniform with a ribbon tied at the collar. Laughter echoed behind her-warm, familiar. A boy's voice called out: "Wait up, Elara!"

She turned.

He had soft eyes and dark, unruly hair. His smile felt like sunlight, and the way he looked at her made her heart ache with something she didn't understand. Something lost.

She reached out to him-

And woke up with a gasp.

The morning light was pale and gray. Her room was quiet except for the ticking of the old clock on the wall. She sat up slowly, wiping sweat from her brow.

The boy's face lingered in her mind.

Without thinking, she reached for her sketchbook and began to draw.

Later that day, in college, Elara sat on the stone bench near the old wall, the sketchbook tucked in her bag. She hadn't said much all morning.

Ella plopped down beside her with a dramatic sigh.

"You didn't answer my texts last night. We thought you died or something."

Nia followed, chewing gum and eyeing Elara with curiosity.

"Yeah, you disappeared after class. What's going on?"

Elara forced a smile. "I just needed some quiet. That's all."

But her fingers brushed the sketchbook's edge inside her bag, and she remembered the boy's smile. The dream still felt more real than her morning coffee.

Before she could say more, three familiar voices approached.

"Elara!" Leo's voice rang out-too loud, as usual.

Billi and Henry followed, laughing.

Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey, uh... we're doing a group project thing later. You in?"

Elara nodded politely. "Sure."

Henry nudged Leo. "He only asked you, you know."

Billi grinned. "Lovesick Leo strikes again."

Elara blushed slightly but smiled through it. She was used to their teasing by now.

Still, as the conversation went on around her, her thoughts drifted back to the tree. To the whisper. To the boy in her dream.

"Because you remember,"

Remember what?

The cafeteria buzzed with its usual late-morning energy-half-empty coffee cups, shouts from across tables, and trays clattering. Elara, Ella, and Nia sat near the window, their plates barely touched as they chatted lazily.

Ella was mid-rant about a professor's confusing assignment when a sudden noise from the entrance grabbed their attention.

"Hey, calm down, man!"

A small group of students near the doorway had frozen. A guy stormed past them, clearly annoyed, followed closely by another boy trying to explain something in a half-loud argument. It wasn't serious-more bark than bite-but it was enough to turn heads.

Right behind the scene, leaning casually against a vending machine with one hand in his pocket,

stood Jack.

Cool, calm, and entirely unbothered.

He wore his uniform a little looser than the rules allowed, his sleeves rolled just right, his hair perfectly disheveled. His expression was unreadable, but the corner of his mouth curved like he was entertained.

"Wow..." Nia whispered, elbowing Ella.

"There he is. Drama follows him like perfume."

From another table, a girl practically squealed. "He's so amazing. I swear, even when he's just standing there!"

Billi, holding a tray and passing their table, called out:

"Jack! Why didn't you show up to class today?"

Jack shrugged as he strolled in their direction.

"Busy. Had something to take care of."

Nia murmured behind her cup, "Yeah, right. Probably busy entertaining his girl fan club."

Ella giggled. "Or building a throne made of love letters."

Elara laughed, leaning back in her chair. "He's very popular, after all."

Jack strolled over to their table with his usual lazy confidence, pulling out the empty chair beside Elara without asking.

"Hi, girls," he said smoothly, tossing his bag onto the floor.

Then his gaze landed on her, steady and a little playful.

"Hey, Elara."

Ella and Nia exchanged a quick look, eyebrows raised.

Elara smiled, casually sipping her drink.

"Hey, Jack."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Why aren't you attending class these days?"

Jack leaned back in his chair, stretching one arm along the backrest.

"Hmm... I guess I just needed a break from lectures about things I already know."

His eyes flicked to her again, teasing.

"Besides, class is boring when someone interesting isn't there."

Ella let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, he's so smooth it's dangerous."

Nia added, "We need sunglasses with how cool he thinks he is."

Elara chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You mean you skip class just to make a dramatic entrance later?"

Jack shrugged with a grin. "Something like that."

But under the playful exchange, there was something else-something quieter. Jack's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary, like he wanted to say more but didn't.

Then he leaned forward, stealing a fry off Ella's tray.

"Anyway," he said, mouth full, "what did I miss today?"

Jack raised an eyebrow, mid-bite of the stolen fry.

Ella crossed her arms and leaned in.

"You missed today's lecture. It was about the upcoming exams."

She narrowed her eyes.

"And it was important, Jack."

Before Jack could respond, Billi plopped into the empty chair beside Nia, balancing his tray like a trophy.

"Don't worry, dude," Billi said, clapping Jack on the shoulder.

"I'll teach you everything. My notes are legendary."

Jack gave him a flat look. "That's exactly what worries me."

Nia rolled her eyes.